Heel-cutting machine.



No. 789,847. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

W. WOLFE.

HEEL CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IgUcgTov,

No. 789,347. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. W. WOLFE.

HEEL CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 25, 1903.

2 SHEETS-811331 2.

TTED STATES Patented May 9, 1905.

WILLIAM WVOLFE, OF BATAVIA, OHIO.

HEEL-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,347, dated May 9, 1905.

' Application filed August 25, 1903. Serial No. 170,746-

To a, 'liuho'ml it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM WOLFE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Batavia, in the county of Clermont and. State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Heel-Cutting Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in machines of that general class employed for the cutting of heel taps or lifts.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for the cutting of either heel sheeting or scrap leather, in which provision is made for the employment of a plurality of dies of different size or shape, any one of which may be adjusted to cutting position. I A further object of the invention is to pro vide a machine in which the supporting-table proper serves as a stripper for removing the leather from around the die.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cutting-die of such character as to form a perfectly straight edge on the sheet of leather from which the taps or lifts are out without regard to the shape of such taps or lifts.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a heel-cutting machine constructed in accordance with. the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the machine on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the cutter-block and nail-block, together with the holding device for the naildriver rods. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view through the table, illustrating one of the diecarrying slides. Fig.6 is a similar-view showing a slide that carries both a female die and.

a punching-die. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the nail-block drawn to a somewhat larger scale. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing a stop for limiting movement of the driver-rod holder with respect to the nailblock. Fig. 9' is a detail view of a portion of one of the slide-operating mechanisms.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The machine forming the subject of the present invention is designed more especially for the formation of taps or lifts to be used in the manufacture of heels for boots and shoes, although the mechanism may be employed for the formation of die-cut articles of any character.

The various operating parts of the maing a part of the frame is a main table or base 2, arranged at a convenient height for the operator. On this table are arranged a large number of gnideways 3, all radiating from a common center and each adapted for the reception of a slide 4, that carries a cutting-die 5. The guides are of different shape and size in order that taps or lifts may be cut for the manufacture of heels of different shape, and each die is in the form of a continuous knife, into which the lifts or blanks are forced and from thence delivered to a suitable receptacle. Each of the dies carries a pendent chute 4, leading to a suitable receptacle disposed below the machine and arranged in direct alinement with the die, so that all of the blanks forced therethrough will be guided to said receptacle. In order to adjust the dies to operative position, a pedal? lever 5 is employed for each of the slides, the pedal-levers being arranged within convenient reach of the operator and connected by a ent chute, so that any desired die may be brought to the common center to receive a tap or lift. l/Vhen the pedal lever is re leased, the slide is returned to its normal in operative position by means of a counterweight 8, connected to the slide by means of a flexible chain or cord.

chine are supported by a frame 1, and formbell-crank lever 6 to the slide or to the pend-- The dies 5 are preferably of different character, although they may be all of the same construction. In the form shown in Fig. 5 the cutters are in the form of blades adapted to cut directly through the leather when the latter is forced down into engagement therewithby the cutter-block but in the construction shown in Fig. 6 the die 5 is in the form of a female die and the slide also carries an arm 8, in which is arranged a male die 9, that may be forced down by the same mech anism which operates the cutter-block in order to punch out the tap or lift.

In the manufacture of articles of this char acter it is desirable that the edge of the leather be cut perfectly straight in order that the operator may better judge the position of the dies. For this purpose each of the dies 5 is provided with a projecting knifeblade 9, forming practically a continuation of one of the approximately straight sides of the heel lift or tap and extending to a point in alinement with the curved rear edge of such heel-blank, so that a series of cutting operations by this knife will result in the formation of a sheet having approximately straight edges.

Above the table 2 is mounted a table 10 in the form of a flat sheet, preferably of metal, and held in elevated position by means of a plurality of vertical springs 11, surrounding vertical guide-posts 12. This table has an opening 13 corresponding to the mid-position of the dies and is held normally at a level a trifle above the cutting edges of the dies, so that at each cutting operation the table will be depressed with the leather, and on being released the springs will act to again return it to its normal position and the table act as a stripper for the dies. On the table are secured two guides 14 and 15, preferably arranged one at the rear edge and one at the end of the opening 13, and in each guide is mounted a slidable-bar 16, that may be adjusted to any desired position by a screw 17. These bars form stops for limiting the movement of the sheet of leather and serve as guides for holding the leather in proper posi tion during the cutting operation. If the leather were cut so as to form an irregular sheet, these guide-bars would be of little or no value, but by trimming the edge of the sheet so that it will always be approximately straight the leather may be readily fed to proper position without the exercise of any special care on the part of the operator.

Above the main table is a gooseneck 18, in the head of which is formed a guide for the reception of a vertically-movable bar 19, the upper end of which is connected by a pitman 20 to a wrist-pin 21. The wrist-pin is carried by a crank-disk 22, secured to the main operating-shaft, and said shaft is provided with suitable clutching mechanism under the control of a pedal 23. The clutching mechanism may be of any ordinary character and is preferably of the type employed in shoe and other machines for effecting a single operative movement of the mechanism at each clutching operation.

The lower end of the bar 19 is adapted to come into contact with the cutter-block in order to force the latter against the dies 5, or it may engage the top of any one of the male dies 9 that may be adjusted to a position in vertical alinement therewith, or the bar may engage the nail-driving mechanism, any one of these three elements being adjustable to proper position in alinement with said bar.

The table is provided with a verticallydisposed bar 28, forming a pivotal pin for two rigidly-connected arms 29 and 30, and said arms are normally held in elevated position by a helical com iiression-spring 31, surrounding the bar 28, its lower end bearing against a collar 32 near the lower end of the bar and adjustable thereon to vary the stress of the spring. The arm 29 is provided with a socket 33 for the reception of the shank portion of a cutter-block 34, that may be formed of wood, lead, or similar material and-held in place by a set-screw 35. When the cutterblock is adjusted to a position under the verticallyreciprocating bar 19, a lug 36 on arm 29 will come mto position'under a rearwardly-extending arm 37, carried by the bar 19, and as the lug 36 is disposed adjacent to the pivotal pin of the arm the block 34 will be moved in a true vertical line and all strain at the pivot-pin will be avoided. To the bed-plate is secured a standard 39to form a center stop for the arm, and this centering movement may be further assisted by means of a pin 40, carried bythe bar 28 and extending into a slot 41 at the hub or pivotal pin of the arm 29. In operating this portion of the mechanism the cutter-block is first moved to a position under the bar 19, and after the leather has been placed in position the operat'or depresses the pedal, and the bar 19- descends and forces the cutter-block into contact with the leather and the leather into engagement with the cutting-die. This operation also depressesthespring-held table, and after the cutter-block is allowed to ascend the table is moved upward by its springs and forms a stripper for the die, while the die-cut lift or tap passes downthrough the chute carried by the die-slide and is received in a compartment or bin with which said chute communicates.

-The arm 30 carries a nail-block 42, having a plurality of vertically-disposed perforations 43, into which nails or similar securing devices may be inserted when it is desired'to utilize the machine in the building up of heel-blanks formed either of sheetor scrap-leather. The perforations are closed by suitable slides 4A, that hold the nails in place. The arm 30 carries a vertically-disposed pivot-stud 46, on which is mounted a driving-arm 47, provided at its outer end with a plurality of driving-rods 48 of a number equal to the number of perforations 43. This arm 47 is normally held in elevated position by a helical compression-spring 50, mounted on the pivot-stud 46, and it may be centered with respect to the nail-block by means of a pin 51, carried by the pivot-stud and extending into a slot 52, formed in the hub of arm 47. The standard 39 serves to assist the centering of the nail-block-carrying arm 30, and said arm is provided with an upwardly-projecting lug 53, arranged near its hub and adapted to be engaged by the rearwardly-extending arm 37. T o avoid injury to the arm 47, said arm is provided with a lug 54, arranged near its hub and adapted for engagement by a pendent linger 55, carried by the arm 37, and in operation the bar 19 and arm 87 descend and come first into contact With the driving-rod and then into engagement with the nail-block in order to force the nail to a position in. the heel-blank.

In order to assist in centering the nailblock and the nail-drivers, I employ an arm 56, so arranged as to come into contact with the arm 47 and stop the movement thereof at the proper point under the lower portion of the bar 19, and as the operator to adjust the nail-block to position must swing the arm 30 in the direction of the vertical plane of the bar 19 the arm 56 will first engage and hold the arm 47 and then the nail-block will be stopped in proper position directly underneath the drivers.

In order to form an anvil for the bar 19, one of the slides 4 is provided with a solid block 60, which is adjustable to position immediately under the bar 19 when the nail driving mechanism is to be operated.

With a machine of this character taps or lifts of any desired size may be cut from either sheet or scrap leather and the parts may be nailed or otherwise secured together, in order to form a heel-blank.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is 1. In combination, a plurality of radiallyguided cutting-dies movable independently to a common center, and a cutter-block for cooperation with sald (hes.

2. In combination, a support, a plurality of slides, guides radiating from a common center and carrying the slides, cutting-dies carried by the slides, and a cutter-block for cooperation with said dies.

3. In combination, a table having a plurality of guides radiating from a common center, a plurality of slides carried by the guides, cutting-dies on the slides, a cutterblock for cooperation with the dies, and a delivery-chute carried by each of the slides.

4. In combination, a table having a plurality of guides radiating from a common center, slides arranged in the guides, cuttingdies carried by the slides, a delivery-chute carried by each slide and arranged in alinement with its die, a pedal mechanism associated with each slide, means for returning the slides to initial inoperative position, and a cutter-block for cooperation with all of the dies.

5. In combination, a plurality of cuttingdies movable toward acommon cutting-point, a work-supporting table fitting over the dies and having an opening at said cutting-point, means for yieldably supporting the table to permit its operation as a stripper in connection with. all of the dies, and a cutterblock for cooperation with said. dies.

6. In combination, a cutting-die, a worksupporting table forming a stripper for the die, a plurality of adjustable steps or guides carried by the table for engagement with the work, and a cutter-block for cooperation with said die.

7. A cutting-die for the formation oi a non-rectangular blank, said cutting-die having a knife-edge extended in a plane parallel with one side oi the die to form a straight edge 011 the sheet on which the die is acting.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM l/VOLFE.

IVitnesses HENRY K. J QI-INSON, ALBERT J. GANNETT. 

